Having access to safe and
abundant potable water is quickly becoming one of the most important
global environmental issues. Some models predict that 40% of the world's population will
suffer water shortages by 2025 due to several mechanisms, such as
climate change, species invasions, and eutrophication. These
issues have been especially challenging in the southeastern U.S.
given the on-going explosive population growth and prolonged drought
throughout the region. Unfortunately, less emphasis has been placed
on the study of warm-water ecology (in contrast to
ecological research in cooler, more temperate regions), thus
creating a significant need for broadly-trained scientists capable
of exploring complex, context-dependent natural and anthropogenic
processes threatening water resources in warm regions of the world.

This REU Site is a novel, collaborative effort involving
Auburn University faculty mentorsspecializing in diverse but complementary disciplines, including
community ecology, fisheries management, aquaculture, evolution,
limnology, molecular biology, microbiology, invasive species,
fish behavior, outreach, physiology, parasitology, and conservation. Together these
disciplines provide the education basis for undergraduate students
to learn about techniques and tools to study aquatic communities,
specifically warm-water systems such as
reservoirs, farm ponds, streams, and brackish estuaries. The
primary objectives of this project include exposing participants to
different scientific hypotheses, research techniques, and ecological
habitats and conditions in an engaging, interdisciplinary atmosphere
that fosters a strong interest in aquatic sciences by the next
generation of water experts.

All REU students
are fully supported during their experiences at Auburn University,
including a $5,000 stipend, travel support to and from Auburn
University, research funds ($500), and food and lodging at
The Cambridge for
the entire 10 week program (5/26/13-8/4/13).

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2013 REU students

Laura
Alexander - University of Georgia (currently a PhD student at the
Univ of Wisconsin)

Crystal Bishop
- Young Harris College (currently an MS student at Liberty Univ)